Fashionably Practical: Fusing Fashion + Technology

Kyle Chan, CCA and Jen Costillo, Rebelbot

Aesthetic Futures

“Technology and fashion are a perfect match. The fast-paced progress of technology complements fashion’s ever evolving aesthetic.” – Bradley Quinn, (2012)

Fashion Futures, London, Merrel

Agenda

• Different Worlds• Case Studies• Design Process

Worlds Collide

Different Worlds

SW/UX

HWRF

Mech/ID CLR/MAT

PROD/FINPROTO

Con/Dev

TECH FASHION

Evolution

SW/UX

HWRF

Mech/ID

Technology’s View

SW/UX

HWRF

Mech/ID

• Fit– Biomechanical– Sizing

• Form– Profile/Sleekness– Placement

• Function– Environment– UI/UX– Displays

Mechanical Challenges

SW/UX

HWRF

Mech/ID

• Antenna – placement– Pattern

• Power• Persistent connection • Protocol• Certifications

– SAR– FCC– PTCRB– FDA

RF Challenges

SW/UX

HWRF

Mech/ID

• Volume of hardware• Power– Battery– Charging

• Computing – Memory– speed

Hardware Challenges

SW/UX

HWRF

Mech/ID • Algorithms• User Experience and

Interface• Data Collection

Software Challenges

Development Process

Waterfall Method

• Aesthetics• Glamour• Craft• Seasonal• Experienced

SEASON

TARGET CUSTOMER

MARKET

Fashion’s View

CLR/MAT

PROD/FINPROTO

Con/Dev

• Markets• Brands• Market categories• Price points• Seasons• Fashion Collection

CONCEPTTO PROD.

Market and Seasons

The Human Experience

• Long development time• Availability of materials• Managing many products• Production• Desirability

COLOR/MATERIAL

ASSEMBLYFINISHING

PATTERNPROTO-

TYPE

CONCEPTDESIGN

Fashion’s Concerns

CONCEPT• Target market• Context/environment• Purpose/specific usage• Form vs function vs fit

balance

REALITY• Target market ≠ market

segment• Price point• COGS• Fashion cycle• Production and

distribution• Fabric and technology

Product Concept and Realities

Model for Developmentfor Wearables

Gilsoo Cho, (2010) Smart Clothing: Technology and ApplicationsBoca Raton, CRC Press

Model for a Successful Wearable

© 2014 Kyle Chan and Jen Costillo

Proposed Model: SmartClothing

© 2014 Kyle Chan and Jen Costillo

CASESTUDIESApple “Smart Garment”

patent related to Nike + iPod, 2012

WEARABLESECOSYSTEM

WEARABLECATEGORIES

• Body signal and environment monitoring

• Entertainment and/or social media• Photonic• Extra Functional• Artistic

Smart Clothing Categories:

Social Emoting Wearable

NECOMIMI

• Brainwave sensors show your emotions• Awkward• Obvious in any setting

Geometry Darling Bag

• High-end accessory• Flexible fashion statement• Understandable form• Photonic with extra functions

SWITCHEMBASSY

The Core

• Sensors:

Smart Activewear

ATHOSCLOTHING

- Embedded in fabric- Muscles exerting force or

stretching0- EMG- Heart rate - Breathing rate.

Haute Couture/ RTW

CUTECIRCUIT

• iMini Skirt• £ 3,750.00

• Materialize 3D printed• Blending Social behavior

and conceptual fashionCutting Edge

ANOUKWHIPPRECHT

BREAK

Starting Out

Going from nudity to a product• What is your concept?

WORKSHOP

Costillo 322/20/2014

Exercise 1

• Who is your target market?

DEFINE

Exercise 2: What do they need?

DEFINE

ASSESS

FashionStrategy• Garment styling• Biomechanics• Textiles & Trimmings• Sizing & Fit• Device(s) placement

Exercise 3: make a mock up

REFINE

36

Exercise 4: Antenna location? Where is there not RF in the way

RF

• Using the paper model, where could the antenna be located

• Where to add the antenna without impacting mechanical or manufacturing design

Costillo 37

Exercise 5: Power Strategy• Using the target market, what does their user

story look like?• What would charger look like? • How long between charges?

2/20/2014

What is acceptable to the consumer?

12 hours1 day

/constant use

Exercise 6: What Data Do You Share?

Making it last

TESTING

FASHION:

• Durability and Sustainability

• Fabric choices and care • Re-use

Costillo 40

Waterproofing

2/20/2014 TESTING

Costillo 41

Sweat Proofing

• Choose Materials Carefully

• Corrosion• Color-fastness• ISO formulations– ISO 105– ISO 3160– ISO 1164

• Homebrew • Lots of field testing

2/20/2014 TESTING

Costillo 422/20/2014

Environment Proofing

TESTING

• Salt Water• Arid climate• Sun exposure• The Environmental

Oven is your friend

TESTING

Exercise 7: What are your big testing challenges or unknowns? • Name two ways around it.• Other Issues?

FUTURE ofWEARABLES

• Conductive fibers, dyes and textiles.

• Print-as-needed components/items

• Environmentallysensitive Dyes

• Photo-reactive coatings• Seamless mechanics• Licensing

• Prototyping– Lilypad– Flora– Metawear(requires enclosure)

• Sensors– Invensense– Nuerosky

Resources

THANK YOU

• Jen CostilloJen@rebelbot.com

• Kyle Chankchan2@cca.edu